Mario Lemieux statue to go up at new Pittsburgh Penguins arena

by FrankD on Aug 15, 2008 11:00 AM EDT in News Comment 7 comments

The details on this one are still scant, but upon reading the slightest hint of a Mario Lemieux statue greeting visitors outside the new arena in 2010, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't immediately psyched for it.

That arena, which team chief executive officer Ken Sawyer said will open for the 2010-11 season, will include a statue honoring Lemieux, the all-time leading scorer in Penguins history.

"We'd be remiss if we didn't have that," Sawyer said of the to-be-designed statue, which will be positioned near the plaza entrance at the northwest corner of Centre Avenue.

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And for some reason, in a question I'm sure only annoyed Lemieux deep down, the reporter asked Lemieux about Hossa:

"It was very disappointing," Lemieux said of Hossa's departure. "I thought he wanted to be part of what we've built here over the past couple of years - especially with Sid and Malkin, having two of the best players in the world."

How does that even pertain to the new arena; to the statue? Ask him about what it feels like having a statue put up. As him what it feels like being immortalized in statue form. But you ask him about Hossa? Come on Rob Rossi, your questions are a disservice to Penguins fans.

At least the article mentions the Penguins will have six games televised on a national level this season. That's always a plus. We all love NBC's coverage, don't we?

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When Jagr retires, they’ll probably build one of him next to it positioned so whenever the sun shines, it’ll be directly in the Lemieux statue’s shadow.

I'm sorry, Mr. Hossa, but I'm afraid we can't be friends anymore. Why? Because I hate you.

by JDunman on Aug 15, 2008 11:19 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Why wait? ;)

by WolfpackSteelersFan on Aug 15, 2008 11:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

oh man…ZING. It’s also be a lot smaller and made of melted down Czechoslovakian pennies.

I think it’s cool though. How many people are going to say, “Meet me by Lemieux.”

FrankD from Pensburgh.com

by FrankD on Aug 15, 2008 11:27 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think it’s awesome. If you were ever looking for a false idol to praise, no better place.

Besides Lemieux, who else do you think would deserve an arena statue? Gretzky of course, but where would you put it? Edmonton? Los Angeles?

I'm sorry, Mr. Hossa, but I'm afraid we can't be friends anymore. Why? Because I hate you.

by JDunman on Aug 15, 2008 12:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think there is one in Edmonton for him, depicting him holding the cup over his head. I don’t know about LA though, but perhaps the moon would be a good place for the next one.

As far as Penguins go, there is none more fitting than Lemieux. Barrasso hated the media, so he’s out. Stevens got too caught up with a rough life outside of hockey. Rick Tocchet? Don’t bet on it. Ron Francis is a stretch, but he did contribute greatly to the Cup runs. Jagr would probably be the best bet, but he didn’t leave Pitt on a good enough note I think.

Fact is Lemieux was in the black and gold for his entire career, and even went on to remain in colors afterwards just in a different capacity.

I guess no one…unless anyone else has an idea. Feel free to talk it up.

FrankD from Pensburgh.com

by FrankD on Aug 15, 2008 1:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I was thinking that as well – Lemieux never went anywhere else.

As far as cities loving a player, Ray Bourque in Boston comes to mind immediately. Sure he went to Colorado to finally get his Cup win (one of my favorite moments in hockey ever) , but I don’t think that tarnished his Boston legacy.

I'm sorry, Mr. Hossa, but I'm afraid we can't be friends anymore. Why? Because I hate you.

by JDunman on Aug 15, 2008 2:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah Borque is the man. Prime example of a good guy getting what he deserves. Cam Neely and him ran Boston for a while.

Hmmm who else? Some jerk in NYC would no doubt say Mark Messier, but that’s funny when you consider he was sent off to Vancouver because they couldn’t think of a way to keep him. he came back of course, but the chemistry was gone by then.

Devils? Yeah, they’ll give Marty one down the line. Islanders? Mike Bossy I guess. I don’t know enough about their history to really suggest anyone else. Philly? Lindros, in the fetal position, on the ice.

That does it for the Atlantic.

FrankD from Pensburgh.com

by FrankD on Aug 15, 2008 2:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs